Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) attenuates obesity and anxious/depressive-like behaviours induced by ovariectomy

Abstract

While several pieces of evidence link obesity and mood disorders in menopause, the mechanisms involved are not yet fully understood. We have previously demonstrated that Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) both attenuated diet-induced obesity of male rats and restored serotonin-induced hypophagia in ovariectomized female rats. The present study aimed at exploring whether GbE treatment ameliorates ovariectomy-related obesity and anxious/depressive-like behaviours. Wistar female rats were either ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated (Sham). After 2 months, either 500 mg/kg of GbE or vehicle were administered daily by gavage for 14 days. Anxious/depressive-like behaviours were assessed by the Elevated Plus Maze and the Forced Swim Tests, respectively. Ovariectomy caused high visceral adiposity, hyperleptinemia, and hypercholesterolemia, and increased the anxiety index (p = 0.048 vs. Sham + GbE) while it decreased the latency to immobility (p = 0.004 vs. Sham). GbE treatment in OVX rats improved body composition, adiponectin levels and blood lipid profile. It also reduced the anxiety index (p = 0.004) and increased the latency to immobility (p = 0.003) of OVX rats. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that leptin (p = 0.047) and total cholesterol levels (p = 0.022) were associated with anxious-like behaviours while body adiposity (p = 0.00005) was strongly associated with depressive-like behaviours. The results showed that GbE therapy was effective in attenuating the deleterious effects of ovariectomy on body composition, lipid profile, and anxious/depressive-like behaviours. Further studies are warranted to better understand the therapeutic potential of GbE in menopause.

Figure 1

Anxious-like behaviours evaluated in the EPM test. (A) Number of entries, (B) travelled distance (cm), (C) time spent (%) in open and closed arms and (D) anxiety index of Sham (n = 8–9), Sham + GbE (n = 10–11), OVX (n = 10–11) and OVX + GbE rats (n = 9–11). *p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham; ^#p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham + GbE; ^&p ≤ 0.05 vs. OVX; ^δp ≤ 0.05 vs. OVX + GbE.

Figure 2

Anxious-like behaviours during the EPM test. Number of events of (A) grooming, (B) rearing and (C) head dipping during the EPM test of Sham (n = 8–9), Sham + GbE (n = 10–11), OVX (n = 10–11) and OVX + GbE rats (n = 9–11). ^&p ≤ 0.05 vs. OVX.

Figure 3

Depressive-like behaviours during the Modified Forced Swim Test. (A) Swimming, (B) climbing, (C) immobility frequencies, (D) latency to immobility and E) diving events of Sham (n = 8–9), Sham + GbE (n = 10–11), OVX (n = 9–10) and OVX + GbE rats (n = 9–10). *p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham; ^#p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham + GbE; ^&p ≤ 0.05 vs. OVX.

Figure 4

Body composition after GbE therapy. (A) Uterus (g) and (B) adipose tissue relative mass (g/100 g) of Sham (n = 10–11), Sham + GbE (n = 10–11), OVX (n = 10–11) and OVX + GbE rats (n = 10–13); (C) carcass fat (g) and (D) carcass protein content (g/100 g) of Sham (n = 5), Sham + GbE (n = 5–6), OVX (n = 7) and OVX + GbE rats (n = 5); (E) final body weight (g) of Sham (n = 8–9), Sham + GbE (n = 10–11), OVX (n = 9–10) and OVX + GbE rats (n = 9–10).*p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham; ^#p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham + GbE; ^&p ≤ 0.05 vs. OVX. RET retroperitoneal adipose tissue, MES mesenteric adipose tissue, GON gonadal adipose tissue.

Figure 5

Lipid profile after GbE treatment. (A) Total cholesterol, (B) triacylglycerols, (C) HDL-Cholesterol, (D) LDL-cholesterol and (E) NEFA (mEq/L) of Sham (n = 10–11), Sham + GbE (n = 13–15), OVX (n = 11–13) and OVX + GbE (n = 12–15) groups. *p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham; ^#p ≤ 0.05 vs. Sham + GbE; ^&p ≤ 0.05 vs. OVX.

Figure 6

Experimental timeline.